We’re going to see a flood of new players into the TableTop RolePlaying Game Hobby soon.

We, the veteran Game Masters, Players, and even game shop staff, need to welcome all the new players coming in to play Dungeons & Dragons or any other new tabletop roleplaying game, maybe for the first time. Here’s a bullet list of things I want to talk about:

  • The hobby is for everyone! Anyone regardless of ethnicity, race, LGBTQIA++, neurodiverse, disabled, political beliefs, religion and so on are welcome to enjoy the game as long as they are pose no danger to the other players.
  • You are only limited by your imagination! Your character can be anything you want them to be (within the confines of the GM’s setting guidelines, world, as established during Session Zero.)
  • You are safe! The table of a roleplaying game session should be a safe space for everyone. Fear, intimidation, hate, violence, and other negativity have no place amongst the humans gathered to participate in the hobby.
  • The Game Master is your friend. We’re here to facilitate a good game and hopefully a great time. If something is bothering a player, about the game or in game, we’re here for them.
  • We’re ultimately here to have FUN! Roleplaying games are here to be fun! That’s why we do this. It’s why we’re playing a cooperative game together- for enjoyment. Other positive values derived from the experience are great, too.
  • You can’t get it wrong! There is no right or wrong way to play your character so long as you’re having fun. (Within reason. Obviously don’t totally disrupt the group and ruin things for other people. Remember we’re all here to have fun and enjoy the game.)
  • Describe what your character would do. Think about it through the lens of someone in that world with reasonable assumptions given whatever the GM has described. How would they react to that situation as an Elf with a sword or whatever?
  • It’s okay to ask questions both out of character, such as procedures, or in character. We all had to start somewhere. Some of us didn’t know a d20 from a d12 or a d10 originally. Heck, there were no Actual Play videos or YouTube back then. It’s natural to ask questions and learn.
  • Roleplaying is a good way to make friends outside of the game. We’re coming together as a group to play a game. It’s human nature to socialize and make friends with one another.

This was a fun list to generate. It was somewhat cathartic for me personally. I’m genuinely excited to really deep dive into these points, probably in September. I really want to welcome as many new players as possible into the hobby.

I’m sure I’ll think of points I forgot to put on the list later. No list of new experiences is ever truly complete. I just want to get new players into the flow of the game and let them know that yes, they do belong here. Roleplaying has always been a fun and engaging hobby for me and I hope I can convey that experience to as many new Players as possible.

Disclaimer: Statements expressed in this article are strictly my opinion. If you disagree or have a different opinion, that’s okay. I’m not an expert on everything. I’m not always right. I’m just writing from my experience as I know it. Your mileage may vary.

Ignore the cranky old Grognards on YouTube and elsewhere.

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It’s sad but there are some people, mostly “old white guys,” on YouTube and even in game shops around the world, who are going to act as if roleplaying games are a gated community. Please believe me when I say the hobby is open to everyone as long as they intend no harm to others out here in the real world. As long as new players are showing up to learn about roleplaying and have fun, there will be a seat at the table (or virtual table online.)

I say a lot on here about gaming and real life: You can’t get it wrong. There is no wrong game. There is no wrong way to play the game. Show up with your character, roll dice, eat snacks, and have fun! It really is that simple.

You’re going to make mistakes. Your character is going to make mistakes. Your character might sometimes fail at a task. Don’t let it get to you. All of us roleplaying hobby veterans have been there. Let the dice fall where they may, laugh about it, and maybe roll up a new character if you have to. It’s okay.

You’re only limited by your imagination.*

*There are a couple of small caveats to that. There are going to be conversations early on, probably at Session Zero, with the GM and other players about what kind of campaign is going to be run and what sort of world environment is are going to be explored. Players might discover that the original character concept they had in mind might need to be adjusted a little bit.

For example, making a pixie barista who runs a coffee shop/bakery might not fit in with a group of characters who are going to be raiding deep underground labyrinths in search of treasure and buried secrets about a lost civilization. However, a pixie scholar who wants to study humans and Elves might be totally welcome there.

A Gnomish astronomer wanting to explore the depths of space might not completely work in a gritty game about pirates and thieves looking to rob the rich and pocket the coin. Unless of course they accidentally kidnap the poor Gnome, and he decides to throw in with them to fund his academic ventures. It might even be helpful for the group to have someone who isn’t a swarthy pirate type who can deal with the more refined local citizenry.

I’ve seen, run, and played in lots of games where initial characters required a bit of tweaking and tinkering before they were campaign ready. Sometimes backgrounds need to be edited slightly and certain details changed to better fit with the group. The gist of it is you can play almost any character and play it your way, just try to fit in a little bit and don’t totally disrupt other people’s enjoyment of the game.

We’re here to have fun!

I’m going to carve that into something around here. Anyone who tries to tell a new player they need to take everything super seriously and we’re not here to have fun is what we call “wrong.” We really are here to have fun. That’s kinda the idea behind playing any game whether it’s Monopoly, Tiddlywinks, D&D, or Warhammer 40,000. Have fun.

If something isn’t fun, talk to the group. Talk to the GM. Sometimes all it takes is a simple conversation.

Sometimes a game or setting isn’t right for you. Maybe your GM knows someone who’s running a game more to your liking. Maybe things can be shifted around early on to make the game fit more of what you’re looking for. Again, it just takes a simple conversation.

Be kind and considerate to your fellow players and GM. They’re here to have fun, too. Have fun. TableTop RolePlaying Games can be an enjoyable lifelong hobby.

Thank you for being here today with me. I appreciate you. Please embrace the things that bring you the most joy.